Collapsible child enclosure

ABSTRACT

A child enclosure apparatus is provided. The child enclosure is foldable between an expanded state and a compacted, collapsed state. The child enclosure may provide a plurality of scissor X-bracing interconnected by articulated corner joints that in the expanded state provides a base panel for supporting at least one child. One pair of scissor X-bracing has their two crossing members pivotally interconnected by a swing arm. The swing arm has a pivotal joint between the two crossing members, the pivotal joint and thus the swing arm is fixed when a swing locking mechanism is in a locked condition, wherein moving the swing locking mechanism to an unlocked condition allows the pivotal joint to pivot so that the swing arm and thus the scissor X-bracing may collapse into the compacted state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a foldable child enclosure and, more particularly, to a child enclosure apparatus that is quick and easy to open for use and to fold for transport and/or storage.

Every day parents across the country are traveling with small infants, but do not have a convenient and secure place to allow their babies to lay down or play, except for the current bulky and expensive travel playpens. Current products are too large and heavy to carry over one's shoulder, they take up much more space than is reasonable in most public areas, and cannot fit in a large airport-checked suitcase, thus current child enclosures are not design to truly be taken “on the go”. Current child enclosures also normally require additional assembly or setup.

As can be seen, there is a need for a child enclosure apparatus that is much lighter and more portable compared to the current offerings, as well as enabled for both quick and easy deployment and collapse for transport and/or storage. The present invention is designed to provide strength and stability, yet adapted to be carried over the shoulder or placed in a large airport-checked luggage bag. The present invention typically is less than five pounds in weight, and opens and closes in seconds with no assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a collapsible child enclosure including a plurality of scissor X-bracing defining an enclosure; each scissor X-bracing having two crossing members; the upper and lower distal end of each crossing member is interconnected to an upper and a lower distal end, respectively, of an adjacent scissor X-bracing of the plurality of scissor X-bracing by a corner joint; each corner joint is movable between a deployed condition and a collapsed condition; a swing arm extending and pivotally connecting to the two crossing members of one of the plurality of scissor X-bracing; and a swing locking mechanism disposed between the opposing distal ends of the swing arm, the swing locking mechanism movable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition wherein said opposing distal ends are pivotal about relative to each other.

In another aspect of the present invention, the collapsible child enclosure including a plurality of scissor X-bracing defining an enclosure; each scissor X-bracing having two crossing members and a scissor pivot point disposed at a joint thereof; the upper and lower distal end of each crossing member is interconnected to an upper and a lower distal end, respectively, of an adjacent scissor X-bracing of the plurality of scissor X-bracing by a corner joint; each corner joint having opposing joint legs, each corner joint movable between a deployed condition and a collapsed condition provides opposing joint legs, wherein the opposing joint legs are fifty percent closer to each other in the collapsed condition compared to the deployed condition; a swing arm extending and pivotally connecting to the two crossing members of one of the plurality of scissor X-bracing; a swing locking mechanism disposed between the opposing distal ends of the swing arm, the swing locking mechanism movable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition wherein said opposing distal ends are pivotal about relative to each other; a collapsible base panel disposed along a lower portion of the enclosure; a lower strap attached along the collapsible base panel and interconnecting each pair of opposing lower corner joints; and a swivel buckle interconnecting each distal end of each lower strap and a respective lower corner joint; and a shell disposed along a periphery of the enclosure, the shell connected to the upper corner joints by corner covers.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in an expanded state;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in an expanded state;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in a compacted state;

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown without cloth material to demonstrate corner joint in an exemplary deployed condition;

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown without cloth material to demonstrate corner joint in an exemplary collapsed condition, demonstrating articulation; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in a portable state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a child enclosure apparatus that is quick and easy to open for use and to fold for transport and/or storage. The child enclosure is foldable between an expanded state and a compacted, collapsed state. The child enclosure may provide a plurality of scissor X-bracing interconnected by articulated corner joints. One pair of scissor X-bracing has their two crossing members pivotally interconnected by a swing arm. The swing arm has a pivotal joint between the two crossing members that is fixed when a swing locking mechanism is in a locked condition, wherein moving the swing locking mechanism to an unlocked condition allows the pivotal joint to pivot so that the swing arm and thus the scissor X-bracing may collapse into the compacted state.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the use of directional terms such as upper, lower, upward, downwardly, top and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, the upward direction (or upper) being toward the top of the corresponding figures and a lower/downward direction being toward the bottom of the corresponding figure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention may include a foldable child enclosure 100 having a collapsible framework 50 supporting a shell 10 defining openings 12; the openings 12 (or “windows”) occupied by mesh 14 for ventilation and visualization. In other words, the foldable child enclosure 100 may have soft, flexible mesh sides 14 with fabric coverings 10 that connect to the collapsible framework 50 via upper padded corner covers 16. The shell material may include 100% poly rip-stop nylon, while the mesh material may be soft, durable 100% poly mesh. A shaped piece of window padding 26 may be sewn into the center portion of each mesh 14 side panel. The soft inner mesh 14 may be incorporated with shell 10 using double and triple stitching for strength and durability.

The overall shape of the collapsible framework 50 may be cuboid or the like and resulting openings 12 may be rectangular or the like, so long as the foldable child enclosure 100 and the shell 10 function in accordance with the present invention as described herein.

The collapsible framework 50 may include a plurality of collapsible X-bracing 88, each comprising two members 18 (such as high-strength aluminum frame tubing) with a center scissor pivot point 38. The window padding 26 may be disposed between the center scissor pivot point 38 and the mesh 14 to protect children within enclosure. Extending between the crossing legs 18 of at least one X-bracing component 88 is a swing arm 28, wherein each distal end of the swing arm 28 is pivotally connected to one of the two crossing legs 18. Disposed between and pivotally connecting said distal ends may be a swing locking mechanism 30. The swing locking mechanism 30 may be moved between a locked condition where said distal ends may not pivot relative to each other and an unlocked condition where said distal ends may pivot relative to each other, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The swing locking mechanism 30 may make an audible noise when moving to the locked condition and/or unlocked condition.

The distal ends of each x-bracing 88 are joined to the respective distal ends of an adjacent x-bracing 88 by way of corner joints 20. Each leg 40 of each corner joint 20 may be fastened to each respective distal end of x-bracing via a fastener 36. Each corner joint 20 is movable between a deployed condition (see FIG. 5) and a collapsed condition (see FIG. 6) so that each x-bracing 88 is articulating with its adjacent x-bracing 88 in the compacted state. In the collapsed condition, the opposing legs 40 of the corner joint may be disposed more inward, toward each other, than in the deployed condition, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. There may or may not be a corner locking mechanism 42 for locking the corner joint 20 in the deployed and/or collapsed condition.

As a result, the collapsible framework 50 is foldable between an expanded state and a compacted state for transporting or storage. In the expanded state in which the present invention may be used as a playpen, child enclosure, or the like, a collapsible padded base panel 60 may be deployed along a bottom portion of the collapsible frame 50, whereon a child may play or sleep. Lower strapping 24 may be disposed along a downward surface of the base panel 60 so that the lower strapping 24 interconnects opposing lower corner joints 20, in an exemplary embodiment an X-shaped configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The lower strapping 24 may provide support for the base panel 60. Interconnecting each lower corner joint 20 and each distal end of the lower strapping 24 may be base corner swivel buckles 22 with open slots to accommodate said strapping 24.

The combination of the shell 10, scissor design of the collapsible framework 50, jointed corner connections 20, integrated base panel 60 and lower strapping 24 passing through the slotted swivel buckles 22, enables the present invention to open and close in a single smooth motion. When in the compacted state, the foldable child enclosure 100 can be opened by simply moving each relevant corner joint 20 to the deployed condition, and then placing each hand on opposing upper padded corner joints 20 and/or upper padded corner covers 16 and spreading outward. Once the foldable child enclosure 100 is completely opened in the expanded state, the hinged swing arm 28 with audible locking mechanism is engaged in the locked condition, thereby ensuring that the foldable child enclosure 100 is maintained in a secure and open position (expanded state) during use. There is no assembly required by the user 34 and the total unit weighs less than 5 lbs. The present invention could be used for small pets, as a cloths hamper, storing stuffed toys, or for any other storage need.

Subsequent use, the user 34 moves the foldable child enclosure 100 to the compacted/portable state by unlocking the swing lock mechanism 30 and moving the corner joints 20 to the collapsed condition and bringing them together which causes the x-bracing 88 to scissor together in a substantial planar relationship. Also, the base panel 60 may collapse so as to lie substantially within the plane established by the folded legs 18. The foldable child enclosure 100 in the compact state may be secured in a storage case 32, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible enclosure, comprising: a plurality of scissor X-bracing defining an enclosure; each scissor X-bracing having two crossing members; the upper and lower distal end of each crossing member is interconnected to an upper and a lower distal end, respectively, of an adjacent scissor X-bracing of the plurality of scissor X-bracing by a corner joint; each corner joint is movable between a deployed condition and a collapsed condition; a swing arm extending and pivotally connecting to the two crossing members of one of the plurality of scissor X-bracing; and a swing locking mechanism disposed between the opposing distal ends of the swing arm, the swing locking mechanism movable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition wherein said opposing distal ends are pivotal about relative to each other.
 2. The collapsible enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a scissor pivot point disposed at a joint of each scissor X-bracing.
 3. The collapsible enclosure of claim 1, each corner joint further comprising opposing joint legs, wherein the opposing joint legs are fifty percent closer to each other in the collapsed condition compared to the deployed condition.
 4. The collapsible enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a collapsible base panel disposed along a lower portion of the enclosure.
 5. The collapsible enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a lower strap interconnecting each pair of opposing lower corner joints.
 6. The collapsible enclosure of claim 5, further comprising a swivel buckle interconnecting each distal end of each lower strap and a respective lower corner joint.
 7. The collapsible enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a shell disposed along a periphery of the enclosure, the shell connected to the upper corner joints by corner covers.
 8. A collapsible enclosure, comprising: a plurality of scissor X-bracing defining an enclosure; each scissor X-bracing having two crossing members and a scissor pivot point disposed at a joint thereof; the upper and lower distal end of each crossing member is interconnected to an upper and a lower distal end, respectively, of an adjacent scissor X-bracing of the plurality of scissor X-bracing by a corner joint; each corner joint having opposing joint legs, each corner joint movable between a deployed condition and a collapsed condition provides opposing joint legs, wherein the opposing joint legs are fifty percent closer to each other in the collapsed condition compared to the deployed condition; a swing arm extending and pivotally connecting to the two crossing members of one of the plurality of scissor X-bracing; a swing locking mechanism disposed between the opposing distal ends of the swing arm, the swing locking mechanism movable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition wherein said opposing distal ends are pivotal about relative to each other; a collapsible base panel disposed along a lower portion of the enclosure; a lower strap attached along the collapsible base panel and interconnecting each pair of opposing lower corner joints; and a swivel buckle interconnecting each distal end of each lower strap and a respective lower corner joint; and a shell disposed along a periphery of the enclosure, the shell connected to the upper corner joints by corner covers, whereby the collapsible enclosure moves to a compacted state only when the swing locking mechanism is in the unlocked condition. 